How practical is a 911
Discussion
Am thinking of buying a 1988 3.2 Carrera, I currently drive a classic Impreza and the main thing that worries me is the general practicality of running a 911, not the paying for things (Scoobies are bad enough) but what can you fit in the boot (bonnet ?), is it possible to fit adults in the back for an hour or two, that sort of day to day thing.
Mainly would be just me and the girlfriend but occaisionly need to take some friends into London.
What is the biggest think you have had under the (cars !) nose ? Will a 75 litre bag of compost fit (Janet loves her garden) or can you get a few dust bin bags of leavs in it for the tip.
These are all things that cause no problems or worries in the Scoobie.
Bill
Mainly would be just me and the girlfriend but occaisionly need to take some friends into London.
What is the biggest think you have had under the (cars !) nose ? Will a 75 litre bag of compost fit (Janet loves her garden) or can you get a few dust bin bags of leavs in it for the tip.
These are all things that cause no problems or worries in the Scoobie.
Bill
The only thing that goes in the back is your bags, or kids. No room for an adult unless only one with pain beyond 20mins.
You can get a sainsburys half trolley in the front, but not a very full standard trolley.
You can get a weeks worth of luggage and two people in if you go on holiday.
I wouldn't take mine to the tip so I've no idea.
>> Edited by dilbert on Tuesday 5th April 01:04
You can get a sainsburys half trolley in the front, but not a very full standard trolley.
You can get a weeks worth of luggage and two people in if you go on holiday.
I wouldn't take mine to the tip so I've no idea.
>> Edited by dilbert on Tuesday 5th April 01:04
loads of room in the back for stuff or 1 adult sideways, or 2 children.
Boot is good as well for soft bags shoes etc.
2 adults in the back wont go.
tell your friends to hire a car or get the train! problem solved. You will be driving the car 90% of the time by yourself or with 1 in the passenger seat - dont worry about the other 10% - you will find a way.
Boot is good as well for soft bags shoes etc.
2 adults in the back wont go.
tell your friends to hire a car or get the train! problem solved. You will be driving the car 90% of the time by yourself or with 1 in the passenger seat - dont worry about the other 10% - you will find a way.
They're very practical as others have said. I had a couple of kids' bikes and an electric scooter in the back of my 911 over Christmas when I used it as my "everyday" car. But I could only do this by dropping the top.
The main barrier to what you can carry in the rear is what will fit in the gap behind the tilted forward front seat and the roof/door shut. You don't want to damage the trim around the door with that bag of rose clippings do you?
The cabriolet is the most practical for carrying adults in the rear, and the targa with its bigger rear window also makes sense - my first 911 was a Targa and I carried 2 6 foot plus mates in the back of that many times without too much complaint!
The main barrier to what you can carry in the rear is what will fit in the gap behind the tilted forward front seat and the roof/door shut. You don't want to damage the trim around the door with that bag of rose clippings do you?
The cabriolet is the most practical for carrying adults in the rear, and the targa with its bigger rear window also makes sense - my first 911 was a Targa and I carried 2 6 foot plus mates in the back of that many times without too much complaint!
The 911 was always a practical car....considering the power and type of car.
The magazines would always call it the practical sports/super car, and compared to its rivals it was.
But its now nearly 20 years old, and worth remembering.
But as someone has said: 90% of the time, you'll be on your own or with one other person. For the rare times you take a third person, work somehting out then.
The magazines would always call it the practical sports/super car, and compared to its rivals it was.
But its now nearly 20 years old, and worth remembering.
But as someone has said: 90% of the time, you'll be on your own or with one other person. For the rare times you take a third person, work somehting out then.
air cooled 911's have roof guttering which will allow the use of a standard old fashioned roof rack.
My thule roof bars are very easy to fit, and i have the appropriate bits for carrying skis, snowboards, mountain bikes, etc. or you can just use the bars for taking stuff to the tip, etc.
I bought some 31" tyres for my jeep a while back - they went on the roof rack no problem. Seems like 62" is about the width of a 993 though
Totally practical for everyday use, as long as you're single or a couple. If you have a family, get a cheap volvo for family trips out. You can pick up a 6 cylinder 960 estate with everything for a couple of grand.
VS
My thule roof bars are very easy to fit, and i have the appropriate bits for carrying skis, snowboards, mountain bikes, etc. or you can just use the bars for taking stuff to the tip, etc.
I bought some 31" tyres for my jeep a while back - they went on the roof rack no problem. Seems like 62" is about the width of a 993 though
Totally practical for everyday use, as long as you're single or a couple. If you have a family, get a cheap volvo for family trips out. You can pick up a 6 cylinder 960 estate with everything for a couple of grand.
VS
Having come from a scoob (330bhp STi Type R) to a 911 (996), I think you'll be dissapoint with a 1988 3.2 911 in all aspects. Depending on what scoob you have and it's state of tune, I would consider buying a newer 911, even if just a modest move upto a 1990 3.6 (250bhp)
The 964 will just about keep with a bog standard WRX in a straight line let alone anything else.
The first time you hit a bend in a 964 the way you would in your scoob, you can kiss your arse goodbye! And thats in the dry! Try it in the wet and you will simply die.
Ofcourse it's still a 911 and there are many pluses to ownership. But as a performance machine it will leave you dissapointed. What you will spend on a 1988 3.2 could buy you a rather nice Evo 6 which as a performance machine is far better, though it's not a Porsche!
The 964 will just about keep with a bog standard WRX in a straight line let alone anything else.
The first time you hit a bend in a 964 the way you would in your scoob, you can kiss your arse goodbye! And thats in the dry! Try it in the wet and you will simply die.
Ofcourse it's still a 911 and there are many pluses to ownership. But as a performance machine it will leave you dissapointed. What you will spend on a 1988 3.2 could buy you a rather nice Evo 6 which as a performance machine is far better, though it's not a Porsche!
Also agree with Thunderfoot...just moved from an STi-5 Type-R also (about 310hp) to a '98 996 C2, so similar numbers on paper, but I have to say, the scoob was devastatingly fast, in fact, contemplating not selling the scoob for this reason, outrageous and supremely capable...HOWEVER...which is the nicer place to be?...which doesn't make my head ring after a 250 mile journey to a Customer? (4000rpm @ 72mph?!)...which doesn't guzzle fuel to the point where you can see the gauge drop every time you boot it?...which is cheaper to insure and service?...which does the "boss" like, and which was such a focussed ride that she felt ill?....the Impreza is instantly appealing, like riding a grenade, the porsche gets under your skin after a few weeks, but they are SO diametrically opposed, it's untrue...
I've used my old 911 as an everyday car... Drove around the alps 3 up in the summer, but it did help that the third person was female. And have done runs from London to Manchester 3 up a couple of times. The slight lack of space and comfort is made up for by the fun of the journey...
And I managed to get 12 bags of 25kg stones for the garden into it in the summer when I was renovating... Had to go very slowly over speed humps and corner + brake carefully, but it did get it all in... A sunroof is useful for carrying trees home from the garden centre too.
THere's no way I could imagine doing that lot in a Ferrari Dino, so its a damn site more practical that the competition or you'd imagine...
And I managed to get 12 bags of 25kg stones for the garden into it in the summer when I was renovating... Had to go very slowly over speed humps and corner + brake carefully, but it did get it all in... A sunroof is useful for carrying trees home from the garden centre too.
THere's no way I could imagine doing that lot in a Ferrari Dino, so its a damn site more practical that the competition or you'd imagine...
Our only family car for a while, with a 2 yr old. Also went to Europe driving trip for a couple of wks, as well as Le Mans for 2 fat blokes (ok, I'm not fat, but the passenger was!)and all the camping gears etc.
It can be practical, you just have to use it with a bit of thinking and planning, and don't expect the same space as a Volvo estate, and you'll be fine.
It can be practical, you just have to use it with a bit of thinking and planning, and don't expect the same space as a Volvo estate, and you'll be fine.
The 911 won't be as fast or as easy to get speed out of as an Impreza (I've owned 2 Imprezas and 3 993s). Only my current supercharged 993 would comprehensively outrun the Scoob without the driver making any effort.
However once you learn how to drive the 911 it'll go a lot faster
Practicality - nowhere near 4-door booted Impreza style. We recently drove 4 adults 45 minutes in mine once, yes it's not comfortable and beware that rear seat passengers notice immediately how loud the engine is!!!! I love the sound of my car but I've never heard it from one of the rear seats.... apparently it's a lot louder in the back!!!
However once you learn how to drive the 911 it'll go a lot faster
Practicality - nowhere near 4-door booted Impreza style. We recently drove 4 adults 45 minutes in mine once, yes it's not comfortable and beware that rear seat passengers notice immediately how loud the engine is!!!! I love the sound of my car but I've never heard it from one of the rear seats.... apparently it's a lot louder in the back!!!
Agree with all of the above. I too had an impreza and now have a 911(964)
The car is less practicle for another reason than just space.
With the impreza I would take it anywhere and leave it anywhere. I wasnt particulary bothered about things like Mud.
i.e I used to do a lot of hill walking and I wouldnt think twice about driving to snowdonia leaving the car anywhere and just walking through as much mud as I could find. I wouldnt do that in my porsche.
I wouldnt go to the tip in it either a) dont want to mess up the inside and b) dont want to knacker a tyre up
also I dont use it unless I am sure of a good place to park.(every car Ive had before has been damaged in some way. didnt care before but I would be mortified if it happened to this car)
IMO it is special I loved my impreza and could get it to do anything I wanted. No doubt it was faster and safer! but at the end of the day it wasnt as special the car I have now.
The car is less practicle for another reason than just space.
With the impreza I would take it anywhere and leave it anywhere. I wasnt particulary bothered about things like Mud.
i.e I used to do a lot of hill walking and I wouldnt think twice about driving to snowdonia leaving the car anywhere and just walking through as much mud as I could find. I wouldnt do that in my porsche.
I wouldnt go to the tip in it either a) dont want to mess up the inside and b) dont want to knacker a tyre up
also I dont use it unless I am sure of a good place to park.(every car Ive had before has been damaged in some way. didnt care before but I would be mortified if it happened to this car)
IMO it is special I loved my impreza and could get it to do anything I wanted. No doubt it was faster and safer! but at the end of the day it wasnt as special the car I have now.
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